BOSTON — If you have to play the Celtics in Boston — as the Knicks do tonight — it doesn’t hurt to see them without Kevin Garnett — as the Celtics will be tonight.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told Boston reporters yesterday an MRI exam on Garnett’s left ankle revealed inflammation and the perennial All-Star is likely to miss two weeks.

Knicks coach Mike Woodson reverted to Diplomacy 101 and insisted he was not certain there was a benefit to Garnett’s absence.

“I don’t know if it’s an advantage,” Woodson said, “Garnett … he’s a big piece to their puzzle. But again, I’m sure [Celtics coach] Doc [Rivers] is relying on other guys to step up. Just like all coaches do. It’ll be a competitive game regardless of who plays.”

The Celtics also are listing Courtney Lee, as questionable with a left ankle injury.

No team currently positioned in the playoffs has fewer road wins than the Celtics’ 12. Conversely, only Miami in the Eastern Conference has more than Boston’s 24 home wins (a total matched by the Knicks).

Still, Woodson likes Martin off the bench, although that could change in the postseason based on matchups. After sitting out more than half the season, Martin doesn’t care if he starts or subs.

“That’s what I was doing at first,” Martin said of coming off the bench. “Whatever the team needs me to do. [Woodson] understands what I bring to the table so he uses me in any aspect, so I’m going to do that.”

Woodson explained his preference is to keep Carmelo Anthony at power forward. But once the playoffs start, anything goes.

“We’ve had success since I’ve taken over last season with Melo statistically at the four,” Woodson said. “We’ve played Melo at the three as well. It just depends. If you get in a series with Indiana or Chicago, you might have to play Melo at the three, maybe start him at the three based on the fact that they’re big.

“Tyson comes back that gives us one more big coming off the bench in Kenyon [who has] been playing great for us. Coming off the bench or starting, I don’t see any difference. He’ll still play with energy and do what he does.”

* Woodson repeated how thankful he is the Knicks signed Martin before other teams — especially when one of those teams was Boston.

“Kenyon’s been great. … I’m not happy that he went to the Knicks, but I am happy for him because he was out there. We looked at him. A lot of guys looked at him,” Rivers told Boston reporters yesterday. “I didn’t care where he ended up. I just wanted him to do well. … Guys like that, you want them to do well.

“We looked at other guys. We were still looking at guards at the time. So we were in no hurry at the time for a big. We were looking for bigger size, and by the time we got around to it he was gone.”